An Expert Guide to Golf in the UAE

An Expert Guide to Golf in the

Located on the Arabian Peninsula you will find the seven states that represent the UAE, each one individually, governed by its own independent ruler and each with its own unlimited wealth. Oil and Gas have now changed what was forty years ago a desert into one of the wealthier and sought-after places to live. The two main states are Abu Dhabi, The capital, the largest and the wealthiest state, famous for its mosque’s, culture and in more recent times outstanding design and engineering feats second to none. The second is Dubai, now famed for its beautiful hotels and beaches and alternative lifestyle choices. Tourism is certainly where Dubai has it buttoned-down and is one of the world’s only destinations where you can ski, golf and sunbathe all-in-one day. Tourism is a huge factor and influence across both regions and coming with that are hotels and apartments, luxury villas that all have fantastic views. and yes, you’ve guessed it across beautiful golf courses.

With so many golfers now looking to play golf year-round then it comes as no surprise that the UAE offers perfect growing conditions and near-perfect year-round playing conditions (OK perhaps a couple of months in the Summer the exception.) therefore offering golf courses of championship standard and in immaculate condition. When it comes to design, planning, financing, and building of golf courses there is nowhere else on earth that does it better.

The latest addition designed by European Golf Design and managed by none other than Troon Golf opened its doors just over a year ago, the Dubai Hills golf course has just received the prestigious award of “The World’s Best New Golf Course” at the World Golf Awards, coincidentally held in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. This award adds some testimony and goes even further to rubber stamping even more reasons to visit this fantastic region and one that is growing two-fold year-by-year. A region that all golfers should experience just once, whether that’s once-a-year, or once-in-a-lifetime here at Eagle Golf Tours we try to go that little bit further in creating that holiday experience that is lasting and memorable for all of the right reasons.

How Can I Get to the UAE?

Traveling to the UAE has never been easier, direct flight timings are just over 7 hours into both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Dubai has direct daily flights from Heathrow with British Airways travelling with Eagle Golf Tours also included is Free Golf Club Carriage. British Airways also offers connecting flights from all main regional airports through Heathrow and on to Dubai.

Emirates Airlines also operate directly into Dubai from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow & Newcastle, with an overall luggage allowance of is 30 kgs means that 1 suitcase and golf can be taken providing the weight is strictly adhered to, so not free but within the weight limitation.

Abu Dhabi has direct daily flights from Heathrow with British Airways travelling with Eagle Golf Tours also included is Free Golf Club Carriage. British Airways also offers connecting flights from all main regional airports through Heathrow and on to Dubai.

Abu Dhabi has direct daily flights from London Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester with Etihad Airways with free Golf Club Carriage.

Where Can I Play Golf?

Golf is very much high-on-the-agenda in this region with more and more golfers each year attracted to the quality, accessibility and condition on offer;

Golf in Abu Dhabi is still very much in its infancy with just a small selection of just three golf courses, all of which are of championship standard; Abu Dhabi GC, Yas Links & Saadiyat Beach golf course.

The pick of the bunch and our favourite is the oldest and most established, the Abu Dhabi golf club located just a short ride from the main city centre. This 18 Hole Championship golf course currently hosts the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship which runs between 15 – 19 January 2020

Golf in Dubai is some of the best in the world it has a wider selection to choose from, currently these are, Dubai Creek, Arabian Ranches, Jumeirah Golf Estates has two courses the Fire GC and the Earth GC Earth golf course which will be host the DP World Golf Championships 21-24 November 2019 the finale to the Rec To Dubai , Montgomerie Dubai, The Els Club, Trump International, Emirates has two courses Faldo and our favourite is the Emirates Majlis GC, one of the first built in Dubai with its signature clubhouse echoing back to its cultural past the Majlis exudes quality, yet retaining a little of the history and views over the course across to its now signature skyline are nothing short of “impressive”, the Majlis will host the Omega Desert Classic 23-26 January 2020. Dubai Hills the newest golf course which only opened it doors in 2018, has just been voted the 2019 Best New Golf Course in the World, last but by no means least is the Meydan which sits adjacent to Meydan Racing track venue for the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup with a purse of $12 million, this course has floodlights and therefore you have the option of playing 9 or 18 holes in the evening dusk into darkness, whatever your preference golfing in Dubai is as good as it gets, don’t take our word for it, try it out for yourself,

Where Can I Stay?

Staying in Dubai it depends on what you are looking for the choice is unparalleled, I mean dependant on your location, firstly let’s re-iterate Dubai has some of, in fact the most luxurious hotels in the World, The Burj-Al-Arab is the only seven (7) star hotel in the world where you can find the highest reception of any hotel anywhere in the world, and one of the most elaborate with the dancing fountains inside the reception area between the two escalators leading up to the main concourse of the hotel. Everything in the Burj-Al Arab that looks gold is in fact 24 carat gold leaf. If you are looking for golf & beach then staying in the Jumeirah Beach area (of which the Burj-Al-Arab is located.) may suit you better just minutes away from 4 of the area’s top golf courses.

Our preferred hotel of choice in Jumeirah would be the 5* Rixos Premium Hotel, located in the prestigious Jumeriah Beach Residence district (or JBR) just a five minute walk away from the Dubai Marina Mall, and surrounded by an endless array of bars and restaurants If you are looking to stay near to and wish to take in the city centre and the gold Souks then what better place to stay then the Dubai Creek Marina, our Hotel Choice every time here is the Park Hyatt Hotel, adjacent to the fantastic Dubai creek golf course and short taxi or mono-rail back into the city. If you are looking for the more waterfront based theme to your trip then the best place to stay would be the Dubai marina, with plenty going on from bars, restaurants and shopping galore, our preferred Hotel here is most definitely The Address Dubai Marina, a fantastic 5* Hotel with outstanding views either back into the marina or out across the beach, a short walk away from the Marina Mall and tram station.

Abu Dhabi is slightly different to Dubai, not in its quality but n that it is laid out differently, if you are looking for a stay near to and around Abu Dhabi (The Capital of the UAE) then what better place to stay than the fantastic Westin Abu Dhabi which sits and overlooks the regions oldest and most established golf course in the Abu Dhabi golf club. This 5* luxurious property has extensive views across the golf course and downtown Abu Dhabi is 10 minutes in a taxi. Abu Dhabi is spread out over a wide area across some of the islands literally off the coast, two of which have come to fruition and are now extensively populated. Yas Island has the fantastic Yas Island golf course and a wide choice of top-class resorts and residences, as well as the Yas Island Formula 1 racing circuit, Ferrari World and fantastic white sand beaches. Our preferred hotel here is the popular Crowne Plaza Yas Island. The other island is Saadiyat Island which also has an extensive coastline of fantastic beaches and resorts our preferred resort here is the fantastic Rixos Saadiyat Island.

Both destinations have many more hotel choices and a wide choice of golf holiday experiences, here at Eagle Golf Tours we have 28-years of experience packaging Worldwide Golf Holidays, so when you are looking to plan your next trip just give us a call, our resident expert Robin will be on hand to creating your bespoke golf holiday.